Judge denies to dismiss lawsuit over St. George drag show

ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4) -- A lawsuit filed against the city of St. George over a 2023 all-ages drag show will be allowed to go forward after a federal judge denied the city's request to toss it out.

The lawsuit was originally filed in 2023 after the Southern Utah Drag Stars (SUDS) were denied a permit to host an all-ages drag show in a public park. SUDS argued the City of St. George had discriminated against the group and violated the First and the Fourteenth Amendments in the denial. In June 2023, U.S. District Judge David Nuffer sided with SUDS, who requested an injunction to allow the show to go on.

SUDS was allowed to hold its event on June 30, 2023. Shortly after, the City of St. George changed its ordinances and moved to toss the lawsuit calling it "moot." Neffer, in part, agreed saying in his ruling that since the drag show had happened, part of SUDS' complaint was no longer relevant. However, in his ruling, Neffer said a controversy still exists.